NC4HC is the amateur radio callsign assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to the Henderson County Amateur Radio Emergency Radio Service (ARES) organization.
Henderson County ARES is a group of volunteers with a mutual interest in providing communications services to our county and towns in emergency situations.
It is at the local level where most of the real emergency organizing gets accomplished, because this is the level at which most emergencies occur and the level at which ARES leaders make direct contact with the ARES member-volunteers and with officials of the agencies to be served.
The usefulness of the communications service we provide is recognized by the American Red Cross and North Carolina and Local Emergency Management who include us in their disaster plans. We also cooperate with other Emergency organizations in Henderson and surrounding counties. We continuously strive to improve our capabilities. Individual members are responsible for providing their own equipment. Through the group, we train so that we can provide a useful service. We hold meetings, both face-to-face and on the air, during which we conduct readiness training. We also participate in exercises and public service events during which we practice our communications procedures to refine our skills.
For information about our meetings, see the box to the right. For our events, refer to the Calendar page.
Henderson County is located in Western North Carolina, It's a typical mountain county, consisting of mountain ranges, isolated peaks, a rolling plateau and level valley areas. The County is an intermountain plateau almost circled by mountains.
Our mountainous terrain presents us with situations and conditions which might not be experienced by "flatland" amateur radio operators.
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service in North Carolina is organized into areas which conform to the organization of North Carolina Emergency Management.
Henderson County is located in Area 15.
When: Every Wednesday evening, 8:30 PM
What:Henderson County ARES/RACES Administrative and Training Net
Freq: 146.640 Mhz, PL 91.5. Purpose: pass traffic, information and training for ARES members.
All radio amateurs are welcome.